Is My Labubu Real? How to Spot a Fake and What It's Actually Worth

Labubu, the grinning, toothy little monster from Pop Mart's The Monsters line, became one of the most searched collectibles in the world in 2025. That demand did two things at once. It pushed resale prices for certain figures far above retail, and it flooded the market with counterfeits, which collectors call "Lafufus".

So if you have a Labubu, or you are about to buy one, there are really two questions: is it genuine, and what is it worth today? This guide answers both.

How to tell a real Labubu from a fake

No single check is conclusive. Counterfeiters have gotten better, and some fakes pass one or two tests. Work through all of them. A genuine Labubu passes every one; a fake usually fails several.

Count the teeth. This is the classic test. A genuine Labubu has nine teeth, neatly painted and evenly spaced. Fakes often have the wrong number, or teeth that are smudged, uneven or lopsided.

Look at the face. A real Labubu's face has a pale, peachy tone with a smooth matte finish and soft blush on the cheeks. The eyes are glossy and set cleanly into the face. Fakes tend to have colors that are too bright or too orange, shiny faces, and eyes that bulge, sit crooked or look glued on.

Check the feet. Genuine figures have the Pop Mart logo cleanly stamped on the bottom of a foot. Newer releases, from 2024 on, also have a hidden stamp that only appears under ultraviolet light. An inexpensive UV flashlight is one of the best tools you can own if you buy Labubus secondhand. No UV mark on a recent release is a serious warning sign.

Feel the plush and the stitching. For the plush pendant versions, real Labubus feel dense and soft, and the seams are neat and almost invisible. Fakes often feel thin, scratchy or lumpy, with loose threads and visible, uneven stitching.

Examine the box. Genuine packaging has a soft matte finish and muted colors, with crisp, clean printing. Shiny boxes, overly bright colors, blurry text and rough card are red flags. So is a box that feels flimsy.

Scan the QR code. Recent boxes include a QR code that should take you directly to Pop Mart's official website for verification. If it goes somewhere else, redirects strangely, or does not scan at all, be very suspicious.

Consider the price and the seller. If a rare figure is being sold far below what others are selling for, there is usually a reason. Buy from Pop Mart itself, its official stores and machines, or sellers with a long history of positive feedback on a platform that offers buyer protection.

What a real Labubu is worth

This is where expectations need adjusting. At the height of the craze, some Labubus resold for many times their retail price. The rarest "secret" figures, which appear in only a small fraction of blind boxes, fetched hundreds of dollars.

Since then, the market has cooled sharply. Pop Mart restocked popular series, supply increased, and speculative buyers moved on. In China, the secret figure from one of the most popular 2025 series fell about 88% from its peak resale price over roughly six months, and some regular figures slipped to around their original price or below.

In practice, that means:

• Common figures from widely restocked series often sell at or near what they cost new. Some sell for less.
• Secret and chase figures still sell for a premium, but a much smaller one than at the peak, and prices can drop quickly after a restock.
• Limited editions, event exclusives, collaborations and larger-size figures hold value better than ordinary blind-box pieces, because supply is genuinely limited.
• Sealed items sell for more than opened ones. For blind boxes, an unopened box is a gamble for the buyer and usually sells for around retail, unless it is a whole sealed case.

The key point is that Labubu prices move fast. A price you saw three months ago may be completely out of date. Always check recent sales before you buy or sell.

How to check what your Labubu sells for

Search the exact figure, series and size on eBay, then filter the results to Sold items. Look only at the last few weeks of sales. Match the version carefully: pendant or vinyl figure, size, series, and whether it is a secret or regular figure. Asking prices mean nothing here, as with every collectible. The broader method is laid out in the guide to finding out what an antique is worth, and it works just as well for designer toys.

If you are not sure which figure or series you have, the Valued app will identify it from a photo and give you a starting estimate. That makes it easy to sort a shelf of figures and find the ones worth checking properly.

Tips if you are selling

Photograph the authenticity points. Show the teeth, the face, the foot stamp, the box and any card or tag clearly. Buyers are wary of fakes, and good photos of these details help your listing sell faster and for more.

Keep the packaging. The original box and card add value, especially for secret figures and limited editions.

Sell sooner rather than later. Trend-driven collectibles tend to decline over time, especially after restocks. If you bought purely to resell, waiting is usually a losing bet.

Common questions

How many teeth does a real Labubu have?

A genuine Labubu has nine teeth, painted neatly and spaced evenly. A different number, or smudged and uneven teeth, is one of the most common signs of a fake. It is not the only check, though, so look at the face, foot stamps, box and QR code as well.

How do I check if my Labubu is real with a UV light?

Shine an ultraviolet flashlight on the bottom of the feet. Labubus released from 2024 onward have a hidden stamp that glows under UV light, alongside the visible Pop Mart logo. If a recent figure has no UV mark, treat it as likely fake and check it against the other signs.

Are Labubus still worth money?

Some are. Secret figures, limited editions and exclusives still sell for more than retail, although much less than at the peak in 2025. Common figures from restocked series often sell for about what they cost new, or less. Check recent sold listings for your exact figure before deciding.

What is a Lafufu?

Lafufu is the nickname for a counterfeit Labubu. They are sold widely online and at markets, often at prices that seem too good to be true. They can look similar at a glance, but they usually give themselves away through the teeth, face, stitching, foot stamps and packaging, and they have no resale value as collectibles, much like the reproduction Pokémon cards that turn up in bulk lots.